Germany nominates marathoners and race walkers for World Championships in Berlin 2009

May 27, 2009

On May 26th, the German athletics federation (DLV) selected the first athletes for the home World Championships 2009 in Berlin. 12 weeks ahead of the world championships the athletes for all road events (i.e. marathon and race walking) were the first ones to make the national team. After the qualification period ended on 24th of May, all the participants of the events that will take place outside of the Olympic stadium in Berlin (start and finish at the Brandenburg Gate with courses through the city) are now decided.

Germany will have a complete team for both the mens and womens marathon!

The womens team is led by 2-time London marathon winner Irina Mikitenko, who also has high hopes on winning an individual medal. Mikitenko will be joined by Sabrina Mockenhaupt, Melanie Kraus, Susanne Hahn and Luminita Zaituc. A possible nomination of Sabrina Mockenhaupt for the 10.000m track race is still possible, i.e. a double participation might not be excluded for her.In the womens category, Germany wants to chase a medal in the team competition with the nominated team (the fastest 3 runners will build one team in the world championships).

Also for the mens race a quintet was nominated, i.e. all possible places were filled – a rare procedure in the recent history of German marathon running. Even if André Pollmächer, Falk Cierpinski and Martin Beckmann just missed the individual entry standard of 2:13:00h they are joined by Stefan Koch and Tobias Sauter to build a complete team on home soil.

In the race walking events only 1 athlete per gender was nominated: Sabine Krantz will compete in the 20K womens race and André Höhne is nominated for both the 20K and 50K in the mens category.

The complete German team for the road events:

marathon women:

Irina Mikitenko (1972 / TV Wattenscheid 01)
Sabrina Mockenhaupt (1980 / Kölner Verein für Marathon)
Melanie Kraus (1974 / TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Susanne Hahn (1978 / SV Schlau.com Saar 05 Saarbrücken)
Luminita Zaituc (1968 / LG Braunschweig)
Reserve: Ulrike Maisch (1977 / 1.LAV Rostock)

marathon men:

André Pollmächer (1983 / LAC Erdgas Chemnitz)
Falk Cierpinski (1978 / SG Spergau)
Martin Beckmann ( 1977 / LG Leinfelden-Echterdingen)
Stefan Koch (1984 / LG Braunschweig)
Tobias Sauter (1983 / SG Spergau)

20 km race walking women:

Sabine Krantz (1981 / TV Wattenscheid 01)

20 km race walking men:

André Höhne (1978 / SCC Berlin)

50 km race walking men:

André Höhne (1978 / SCC Berlin)